What Do Smart Cars Mean for Transportation Security?

July 6, 2017

Smart cars are changing how we think about transportation as a whole, but especially transportation security.

Smart car technology has been booming recently. From businesses like Uber attempting to reimagine the way we look at public transportation, to companies like Google attempting to redefine how we use our cars, smart cars have certainly been a talking point for anyone interested in technology. While all of this tech is exciting and new, it does leave some of us wondering if smart cars pose a potential transportation security threat.

Susceptible to Hacking

Smart cars are capable of being hacked which is a huge issue for transportation security. As reported by Wired in 2015, hackers were able to remotely take over a Jeep Cherokee. They were then able to disengage the brakes, take out the transmission, and see real-time GPS coordinates of the car as it continued moving. This was all done through a single loophole in the car’s software. The solution may be a bit of a trade off, as these smart car manufacturers can bolster security by having more of your information. Take, for example, how Uber collects customer GPS info for 15 minutes even after they’ve been dropped off.

Terrorist Accessibility

If someone with the wrong intent got their hands on a driverless car and programmed it a certain way, it could have disastrous results. Terrorists could potentially attach an IED, or improvised explosive device, to the underside of a smart car and program it to cause massive amounts of damage to secure facilities or heavily populated areas. The way to combat this would be through the use of an Automatic Under Vehicle Inspection System. Our AUVIS is capable of quickly and comprehensively scanning under a vehicle for any anomalies or suspicious modifications, like an IED, making transportation security easy and stress-free.

Driverless

An issue that comes along with the benefits of driverless cars is the removing of accountability. There’s no driver to point to and blame if an issue were to arrive. This can be a big issue for those of us concerned with transportation security. One way to combat this problem is to utilize a license plate reader, which can then be used to figure out who the vehicle is registered to and where it came from. Quick and comprehensive license plate reading is difficult, but our License Plate Reader system is able to scan license plates and provide you with all of the information you need.

Put Your Trust in Gatekeeper Security

Gatekeeper Security’s suite of intelligent optical technologies provides security personnel with the tool to detect today’s threats. Our systems help those in the energy, transportation, commercial, and government sectors protect their people and their valuables by detecting threats in time to take action. From automatic under vehicle inspection systems, automatic license plate reader systems, to on the move automatic vehicle occupant identifier, we offer full 360-degree vehicle scanning to ensure any threat is found. Throughout 30 countries around the globe, Gatekeeper Security’s technology is trusted to help protect critical infrastructure. Follow us on Facebook, Google+, and LinkedIn for updates about our technology and company.